EDINA, Mo. – Knox County’s Donovan Edwards remained temporarily frozen in the batter’s box after connecting on what he thought was a weak foul down the first-base line during the second inning of a summer league baseball game against Canton Monday.

But as the ball started to creep toward fair territory, Edwards was forced to quit watching the play and make a mad dash for first.

Canton’s starting pitcher Logan Brown did a nice job of corralling the ball and lunged to try and tag Edwards.

Edwards was called out initially, but the call was overturned and helped spark the Eagles to a four-run inning that helped Knox County (21-7) beat Canton 12-9.

“When I first hit it, it was like three feet foul and it had so much spin it just went back in and I didn’t think it was,” Edwards said. “I didn’t feel anything at all. People said they saw dust [come off his jersey], but I didn’t feel it. He may have touched my shirt, but I didn’t feel it.”

With the Eagles behind 6-3, Sam Minear walked to open the bottom of the second inning. After Cordie Kigar flew out, Jared Barnard walked and Minear advanced to second.

David Chrisman struck out for the second out before Royce Poore singled to load the bases.

After Edwards beat out the grounder to score Minear, Brown walked Joey McCauley, Jacob Blessing and Cedric Boone to give Knox County a 7-6 lead.

Edwards, who was also the winning pitcher, said the play changed the game’s momentum.

“It got in their heads, they got down and started walking people after that,” Edwards said. “It was a big boost for us, we just kept on playing hard.”

Knox County coach Mike O’Haver said the Eagles did a good job of taking advantage of Canton’s mistake.

“They have a young kid on the mound who was throwing and wasn’t doing too bad,” O’Haver said. “After a play, a miscue like that, he got frustrated and walked some guys. It definitely helped us.”

Canton (9-1) scored two more runs in the third to chase the Eagles’ starting pitcher Barnard and take an 8-7 lead. Barnard pitched 2 2/3 innings and allowed eight runs, including seven earned, before being replaced by Edwards.

O’Haver said Knox County couldn’t settle in defensively early.

“I mean our pitchers struggled,” O’Haver said. “Jared Barnard’s been pitching well for us all summer and this is the game he struggled the most in.

“We knew whenever he came out and didn’t settle down the first couple innings it was going to be tough. The guys just hung in there and kept the bats rolling and we got the result we wanted.”

Page 2 of 2 - The Eagles tied the game at eight in the bottom of the third when Chrisman scored on a passed ball. McCauley then bunted in Poore, who finished with three hits, to put Knox ahead 9-8.

After Canton knotted the score in the fourth, Knox County pulled away in the fifth inning.

The Tigers Lucas Brown hit Barnard with a pitch to open the inning and advanced to third after Chrisman doubled.

Edwards then laced a line drive by the third baseman to score Barnard and put the Eagles ahead 10-9.

McCauley, who finished with three RBIs, grounded into a fielder’s choice to score Chrisman and Strange singled in Poore to wrap up the scoring.